[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3007-3008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31799]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Request for Public Comment: 30 Day Proposed Information 
Collection: Environmental Health Assessment of Tribal Child Care 
Centers in the Pacific Northwest

AGENCY: Indian Health Service, HHS.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Indian Health Service (IHS) is submitting to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) a request for an extension of a previously approved 
collection of information titled, ``Indian Health Service Environmental 
Health Assessment of Tribal Child Care Centers in the Pacific 
Northwest'' (OMB Control Number 0917-NEW), which expired September 23, 
2016. This proposed information collection project was recently 
published in the Federal Register (81 FR 48437) on July 25, 2016, and 
allowed 60 days for public comment. The IHS received no comments 
regarding this collection. The purpose of this notice is to allow 30 
days for public comment to be submitted directly to OMB.
    A copy of the supporting statement is available at 
www.regulations.gov (see Docket ID IHS-2015-0003).

DATES: February 9, 2017. Your comments regarding this information 
collection are best assured of having full effect if received within 30 
days of the date of this publication.

ADDRESSES: Send your written comments, requests for more information on 
the collection, or requests to obtain a copy of the data collection 
instrument and instructions to Ms. Celeste Davis by one of the 
following methods:
     Mail: Ms. Holly Thompson Duffy, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Division of Environmental Health Services/Emergency 
Management Coordinator, U.S. DHHS/Indian Health Service, 1414 NW 
Northrup St., 800, Portland, OR 97209.
     Phone: 509-455-3539.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 503-414-7776.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Indian Health Service is submitting the 
proposed information collection to OMB for review, as required by 
section 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This 
notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affected 
agencies as required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) concerning the proposed 
collection of information to: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) 
Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information 
on those who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate 
automated collection techniques of other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Title of Proposal: Environmental Health Assessment of Tribal Child 
Care Centers in the Pacific Northwest.
    OMB Control Number: To be assigned.
    Need for the Information and Proposed Use: The Portland Area Indian 
Health Service (IHS) and Environmental

[[Page 3008]]

Protection Agency (EPA) seek to conduct an environmental health 
assessment of Tribal child care centers in Portland Area Indian Country 
(in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho). There is a 
significant data gap regarding the levels of lead, allergens, 
pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in child care centers 
within Portland Area Indian Country. This research will help us 
understand the potential for exposure to these chemicals among children 
who attend. For example, Eliminating Childhood Lead Poisoning: A 
Federal Strategy Targeting Lead Paint Hazards, produced by the 
President's Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks 
to Children, discusses the need for more data on lead levels in 
licensed child care facilities. Also, data is limited on the 
interrelationships between exposure factors, building factors, and 
community factors and their combined impact on children's exposures 
from chemical agents in child care environments. Non-chemical 
stressors, such as noise, number of windows in the child care center, 
tree cover, and shade cover in play area, will be included in data 
collection. Community factors, such as mapping the locations of the 
child care facilities, roads, and agricultural operations, will be 
included in data collection in order to evaluate the relationship 
between indoor air quality and the outdoor environment.
    IHS and EPA will also incorporate follow-up outreach and education 
with facilities to explain results and suggest corrective actions to 
remediate or reduce exposures from lead, allergens, pesticides, and 
PCBs that are detected in the facilities. The principal purpose of this 
project is to provide valuable data about the levels of lead, 
allergens, pesticides, and PCBs in child care facilities located in 
Portland Area Indian Country. This project will help prioritize 
services and funding based on known needs and risks in order to help 
facilities obtain needed services. This data may help Tribes secure 
funding from the Federal Head Start program and other funding sources 
for repairs, rehabilitations or other corrective action. This study may 
also provide Federal Head Start and Tribal programs with data to 
improve standards and initiate policy changes, if necessary. IHS will 
also provide indoor air quality kits to the facilities and 
environmental health training to center staff to provide methods and 
practices for preventing and controlling indoor environmental hazards. 
This project may be replicated in other IHS areas.
    Agency Form Numbers: None.
    Members of Affected Public: Operators of Tribal child care 
facilities and pesticide applicators who work in child care facilities.
    Status of the Proposed Information Collection: New request.
    The table below provides: Types of data collection instruments, 
Estimated number of respondents, Number of responses per respondent, 
Annual number of responses, Average burden hour per response, and Total 
annual burden hours.

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                                                                      Number      Average burden
  Data collection instrument         Type of         Number of     responses per   per response      Estimated
                                   respondent       respondents     respondent        (hours)      burden hours
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Child Care Center Director      Child Care                    45               1             1.5            67.5
 Questionnaire.                  Center Director.
Pesticide Applicator            Pesticide                     30               1             0.5              15
 Questionnaire.                  Applicator.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................              75  ..............  ..............            82.5
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    There are no direct costs to respondents other than time to 
voluntarily complete the forms and submit them for consideration.

    Dated: December 14, 2016.
Mary Smith,
Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-31799 Filed 1-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-16-P